› Certifications · compare
Compare certifications Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
Microsoft · professional
SC-100 Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect
The Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100) is Microsoft's highest security certification and targets experienced professionals who design security architectures for hybrid and cloud-native environments based on the Microsoft platform. It requires at least one associate-level security certification (e.g., AZ-500, SC-200, or SC-300) and builds on that knowledge. The certification addresses zero-trust architectures, compliance requirements, identity governance, and infrastructure protection from a strategic perspective. For organizations heavily invested in Microsoft 365 and Azure, SC-100 is valuable proof of expertise; outside the Microsoft ecosystem, its relevance is more limited. The exam will be updated in April 2026.
Official page ISC2 · expert
CISSP-ISSAP CISSP Information Systems Security Architecture Professional
Architecture concentration on top of CISSP — trust boundaries, identity / crypto / network composition, defense-in-depth design.
Official page Comparing
Microsoft SC-100
ISC2 CISSP-ISSAP
› Cost Exam fee
SC-100 $165
CISSP-ISSAP $599
3-year cost of ownership
SC-100 $165
CISSP-ISSAP $599
3-year cost of ownership
$165
$599
› Exam mechanics Pass mark
SC-100 700/1000 (scaled)
CISSP-ISSAP 700/1000 (scaled)
Pass mark
700/1000 (scaled)
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
SC-100 $165 fee · 1d wait
CISSP-ISSAP $599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Retake policy
$165 fee · 1d wait
$599 fee · 30d wait · 4/yr cap
Study time
SC-100 100–200 hrs
CISSP-ISSAP 150–300 hrs
Study time
100–200 hrs
150–300 hrs
Validity
SC-100 1 yr
CISSP-ISSAP 3 yrs
CPE / yr
SC-100 —
CISSP-ISSAP 30 CPEs
Delivery
SC-100 mixed
CISSP-ISSAP test center
› Salary signal (US base) Range
SC-100 $145K – $210K
CISSP-ISSAP $145K – $210K
Range
$145K – $210K
$145K – $210K
Median
SC-100 $170,000
CISSP-ISSAP $170,000
Role context
SC-100 Cybersecurity architect (Microsoft-stack focus), US, 7+ years.
CISSP-ISSAP Security architect, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
Role context
Cybersecurity architect (Microsoft-stack focus), US, 7+ years.
Security architect, US, 7+ years. Requires active CISSP.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10) › Recognition & lifecycle Recognition
SC-100 Global
CISSP-ISSAP Global · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU · UK
Current version
SC-100 SC-100 (current) (2024-09)
CISSP-ISSAP 2017 CBK (2017-04)
Current version
SC-100 (current) (2024-09)
2017 CBK (2017-04)
› Domain coverage A1 Governance, Risk & Compliance
A1 Governance, Risk & Compliance
·
● core
A12 Data Security, Privacy & Protection
SC-100 ·
CISSP-ISSAP ○ touched
A12 Data Security, Privacy & Protection
·
○ touched
A13 Supply Chain Security
SC-100 ·
CISSP-ISSAP ○ touched
A13 Supply Chain Security
·
○ touched
A2 Network Security
·
● core
A25 Security Architecture & Engineering
SC-100 ● core
CISSP-ISSAP ● core
A25 Security Architecture & Engineering
● core
● core
A3 Zero Trust Architecture
SC-100 ● core
CISSP-ISSAP ● core
A3 Zero Trust Architecture
● core
● core
A4 Application Security
SC-100 ·
CISSP-ISSAP ○ touched
A4 Application Security
·
○ touched
A5 Cloud Security
SC-100 ● core
CISSP-ISSAP ● core
A5 Cloud Security
● core
● core
A6 Identity & Access Management
A6 Identity & Access Management
·
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.